"No, it is
choice. Destiny chose us. Destiny gave us our ancient powers. But it
was always up to us to decide what to do with it; it was our choice
to continue on the path of a soldier. Now, on the dawn of a new era,
Destiny is calling out to us again, and we must make our decision."

When
the time comes, will you be ready?

"I cannot decide
your fates. Your lives are your own and I want you to be happy, my
friends..."

"Ami-chan,
Mako-chan, Rei-chan, Minako-chan..."

The simple broom swept
the simple steps as it had countless times before. The rhythmic sound
of the scratching bristles muted to her ears from years of labor. She
only ever heard the calming sounds of the birds chirping, or
retreated into the silence of her own mind. So many actions in this
place were simple in their task, performed by countless others before
her in a ritual dance. She took comfort in their traditions, in a
past placid and clearly defined. It was nothing like the life she led
outside the wooden gate of her home.

"I'm just saying
we could've gone later. I was having the best dream about that new
guy that works at the tanning salon!" Like an arrow interrupts
the still air, the disrupted voice split the calm, and for a moment,
her eyes flashed with a dark tempest of annoyance. She turned, her
clothes swishing beneath her, to find three of her friends ascending
the steps of the shrine.

"We wanted to
beat the afternoon crowds so we won't have to rush tonight and
tomorrow, Minako-chan. We want tomorrow to be perfect for her, don't
we?" The words were prim and proper, even after years of
influence from the now exuberant blonde beside her.

"Yeah, you're
right Ami-chan. Hey Rei-chan, are you going to go to the mall in your
robes?"

"Of course not
Minako-chan, I just thought I'd get some things done before you guys
showed up."

"Good, you'd be
stealing all the attention with that get up," A collective sigh
rolled across the group at the woman with a ribbon in her hair. "I
can't wait for tomorrow, I love going to parties. I waited 'til today
to get an outfit so I wouldn't outshine Usagi at her own party."

"Oh you're too
kind Minako-chan," Rei rolled her eyes.

"Who turned on
Minako-chan's ridiculous button today?" Makoto jested.

"Sorry, I'm just
really excited. It is a big day, after all."

"Yes, it is,"
Ami reflected. Their smiling faces became as serious as the stone
beneath their feet. For years, they had found this place of stillness
unaltered, but it could no longer stay the same. The gentle waves of
change had surged upon them, pushing each into taller and stronger
forms, filling them with experience and maturity. Now, at the
precipice of the future, they felt the pull of the undertow the most.

"It's really
coming, isn't it?"

"Yeah…it is,
Mako-chan, but we will be ready." Minako's cheerful voice became
stronger. "We've faced many obstacles, but together we've
beat them."

"Yes, and she has
never let us down," Ami pitched in.

"Then we cannot
let her down now, she believes in us. We will be ready." They
nodded at Rei's words.

"What do you
think will happen?"

"I guess we'll
see."

What
will you decide?

"Haruka-san,
Michiru-san, Hotaru-chan, Setsuna-san..."

The waves lapped
lazily upon the shore, their movement like a dark blanket kicked
around by a fitful dreamer. The slosh of the water was accompanied by
a low melody, floating on the waves like a haunted ship. The sand was
warm beneath them, their toes dug as far as they would go. The
youngest watched the calm waves, while the eldest stared up into the
blurry, city stars with her magenta eyes. The last watched her as her
partner's fingers moved across the strings, taking in every
movement the blue-eyed woman made.

"Why such a
melancholy tune, Michiru?" she questioned. Michiru let the
melody fade out, and put the violin to rest at her side.

"I don't know. It
is the voice of the sea tonight."

"Hmm,"
Haruka nodded. "It is the heartbeat of the wind, too."

"Something
stirs," a small voice whispered beside them, belonging to the
girl they raised together. "Yes, the time is drawing near."

"Do you think we
will be ready?" Michiru asked.

"Yes," after
a moment Haruka answered. "The Senshi have never failed before,
especially the princess. It will be challenging I am sure, but I
believe in them, and I believe in us."

Michiru chuckled. "How
you have changed. Where once only duty stood, belief now reigns."

"Yes, it is
because of her, our little princess. She has changed us all, and we
will help her as much as we can. We will be ready."

"Yes, we will to
do what we must," echoed Michiru

"But where do we
fit in?" The small voice broke upon the intimacy of the moment
once more, and they turned to the young teenager. Her mauve eyes not
leaving the surf as it tumbled continuously. "Chibi-Usa...she
never knew who I was before she came back through time. The only one
she knew was you, Setsuna-mama." They became quiet, as the
smallest voice of them all echoed the concern thumping within their
hearts the loudest.

"Maybe we are not
needed in the future anymore," Haruka guessed. "It is supposed to
be a time of peace. Our destinies have never been the same as
theirs."

"But how could we
decide not to help, after all that's happened?" Hotaru frowned.

"Setsuna, what
happens to us?"

The
mysterious warrior sighed, closing her dark orbs. "You will
see."

Will
you be strong enough to accept?

"My
love...Mamo-chan..."

His feline feet padded
silently over the skyline, the city surprisingly silent beneath him.
His rounds had been quiet as well, letting him dwell upon what lay
ahead. With one final leap, he descended upon his destination, and
cuddled close to her black fur in greeting.

"How were your
rounds?" she asked, her bright eyes staring at him in the
darkness.

"Peaceful…
Anything to report?"

"No, the whole
world seems to be tranquil tonight. I went to visit Ami, but she was
busy with papers to grade. I figured I would leave Usagi and Mamoru
alone tonight," she replied, flicking her tail back and worth
lazily.

"Mina wishes for
some privacy and rest, too," he sighed.

"They deserve
some, all of them."

"And what of us,
Luna? We have had to deal with hormone-induced soldiers for the past
eight years," he snorted.

She laughed, wrapping
her black tail around his. "Indeed, none more so than Usagi. But
she is, and always will be, worth it."

"Do you think the
queen meant for it to be like this?"

"I don't know,
Artemis. I know she only meant for the best." They became
silent, gazing up at the stars above the hue of the city lights. "It
will be a full moon tomorrow."

"Do you think
they are ready?"

"All we ever have
to do is believe. We must always believe."

Suddenly, they noticed
a figure as it leapt into view below them, a dark cape trailing
behind him. A man in a full tuxedo and top hat would seem ludicrous
anywhere else, but this city was used to seeing the bizarre and
abnormal. As he slowly approached the railing, his disguise melted
away and he was easily recognized.

"Hey, isn't that
Mamoru-san?"

"Yes, let's go
see."

His eyes gazed over
the skyline, its grandeur amplified how high Tokyo Tower stretched,
but it all became an unfocused haze as his thoughts focused upon
something more. He had been watching her sleeping, holding her close
into the waxing night. The lights from outside, bright enough to
illuminate their bed and her sleeping form, silhouetting his whole
future and past caught in her elysian dreams. However, his mind began
to ponder upon subjects as dark and foreign as the night itself, and
the cozy room became a stifling prison.

He didn't deserve her.
The others were strong, powerful, worthy of her protection and love.
He had never been anything more but a dramatic distraction to the
enemy in battle, a quick push to safety. In every dire situation he
had failed her, fading out of existence only to be a painful memory
for her, sometimes an enemy. How could he possibly be strong enough
to stand beside her and face what was to come?

"Mamoru-san?"
Surprised, he gazed down at the two felines, concern in their
human-like eyes.

"Artemis, Luna,
what are you doing here?"

"We should be
asking you that question. Why are you not with Usagi-chan?"

The
noble prince sighed, dropping his eyes to his clasped hands. The
glowing lights of the city were sufficient to cast a shimmer upon the
simple band upon his left hand. "Why I am with her, is perhaps
the better question."

"Mamoru-san!"

"I love her, I
will always love her and I have tried my best to protect her. But I
am not strong enough to be there for her like the others. The only
thing I am good at is dying, and I have gladly done it for her in the
past. I will continue to, if I must. I just don't know… I don't
know if I'm ready."

"Oh, Mamoru-san,"
Luna sighed and jumped upon the railing. She reached out, gently
rubbing her head against his hand in comfort. "You were never
meant to guard Usagi, to save her from the evil forces of this world.
You were meant to love her, to save her heart from loneliness and to
give her words of love and hope when every power she has becomes
useless. She needs you, even more than she needs the Senshi."

"Will that be
enough to save her from what is going to happen?"

"It always has.
Don't you see?"

Will I
be everything that I am supposed to be?

"I'm
Tsukino Usagi. I'm 14 years old and in eighth grade.

My hobbies
are eating, sleeping, and relaxing.

I'm an
ordinary cute girl who's kind of a crybaby.

Or at
least, I was supposed to be."

She could not sleep
tonight. The loss of his intimate touch had awoken her, and the empty
bed and whispers of fears would not let sleep come once more. She did
not blame him for disappearing, for she could feel it in the air
around her, the cool morning breeze bringing memories and visions
with it. She could feel it from the others as well, her consciousness
and concern spreading farther than herself. Tonight she felt in touch
with the whole universe, and it pulled her outside to their small
balcony.

She had fought so
long. All she ever wanted was to be happy, peaceful, normal. Now she
could barely remember what was normal, and even if it existed. She
began to rewind the story of her life, analyzing every inch of it she
could remember. All her thoughts only led to questions, however. Was
she truly destined for this role? Had some greater power been wrong
about their choice? She was an ancient princess. But how much of that
life could she remember now? How could something so long gone
influence what was to come?

She wanted nothing
more than peace. For herself, for the world, but mostly for her
Senshi. Her fight had never been alone. Without them, she would never
have fought so hard, nor found the courage to withstand all the evil
around her. They deserved their peace just as much as she did. Fate
had stolen it away long ago, but now she would, once more fight for
it -- for them, for him.

Something
was coming, just hiding beyond the horizon. It would decide all their
destinies, and she knew she would have to make a decision- the most
important one of her whole existence perhaps. She was supposed to
lead the world to a new era, but such a task could not, and should
not be done with half a heart. Could she possibly be what she needed
to be?

Her thoughts vanished
as light poured slowly over the horizon, the sun emerging from its
slumber. With it, her dreams of the past faded like the night, and
the new light brought change to her blue eyes. She drew her legs to
her chest, holding herself close against the new day.

"Happy birthday,
Usagi."

I'm
Chiba-Tsukino Usagi. I'm now 22 years old, and married to the man of
my dreams. My hobbies are eating, meeting friends and fighting for
love and justice. I was an ordinary girl who became a soldier, and
soon I will be a queen.

Or at
least, I am supposed to be.

The
Dawn of Serenity

"I
made a choice long ago, and I will pay accordingly for the
consequences."

Author's
Opening Notes

Edited 2/20: Chapters P-11

If you read nothing
else about my author's notes, please read this: When you get there,
read the brief author's notes at the end of chapter 11.

It is our human nature
to envision the future. To plan for things we foresee, and to worry
about the things we cannot. To wonder how every decision we make will
effect our happiness, and to wonder if our names will echo forever,
or if they will fade into space. Some hope to make a better world,
while some only hope to live freely in it. The future means something
different to everyone, but it will always have a common thread; the
future is hope.

This
is my vision of the future.

In this story, I will
delve into the gossiped world of Crystal Tokyo, but mostly the steps
that lead to its creation. I found myself thinking, what happened in
those years between the present day and Crystal Tokyo's futuristic
appearance? Would it be a time of darkness, or a time of
rejuvenation? Many clues and facts will be taken excessively from the
Manga, as much as my research has brought me to conclude. Only one
incident from the anime will be included in this story, of which you
will easily recognize later on in the tale. I've had many questions
about Crystal Tokyo -- how it formed and the feelings shared by those
surrounded by its lore.

Also, would the events
of the Black Moon Arc, AKA Chibi-Usa coming back in time, influence
the future of Crystal Tokyo in some way? No one can be sure if things
have been mapped out since the beginning of time, this sense of
destiny and fate, or if we are just floating out there, designing our
own destinies. Another aspect of Crystal Tokyo I've always wondered
about was the origin of the Black Moon Clan, and the symbol etched on
their foreheads. This is my explanation, my interpretation of what I
think could have occurred, but it is obviously not canon and should
not be considered so.

The Dawn of
Serenity has many subplots and twists, so if you like
suspenseful, mysterious pieces this is for you. DoS has recently been
revamped because I realized my vision and language are sometimes
confusing, and I want this to be as enjoyable as possible for
everyone. I don't want to spoil the suspense, but I don't want
people to quit halfway through because they can't understand, so
hopefully this edit will reach a middle ground of sorts.

This story is divided
into three arcs: the Pandora, Hubris, and Agape Arc. They are all of
course connected, but different in a way, sort of like how a novel
can have "Books" inside it. They have different tones, style, etc. Naming the arcs is something I did in the revamp
because some people were confused on the transitions, and that is
something clearly needing to be identified. I'll explain why I
chose the words in my closing notes, if you're interested, but you
might be able to guess as you read.

Some Manga facts that
are important to this story you might not know:

-Usagi becomes
Neo-Queen Serenity at age 22.

-The Black Moon crisis
takes place in 30th century Crystal Tokyo, but no one knows what
happens in the years between.

-The Black Moon Clan
sisters (Ayakashi sisters) are not purified; they are killed by their
respectful Senshi.

In this fan fiction
there are also quotes from Alex Glover's translation of the Manga,
which are represented by crosses throughout the whole epic and
are usually italicized at the beginning of some chapters for those of you on
think it's harder to be creative when there are boundaries then when
you are free to reign supreme with AU/AR fics, but I was finally
ready to tackle such a thing at the beginning of this massive
project. After finishing it, I am very proud of how it turned out. It
wasn't perfect, (which is why it's getting a second glance over)
but I'm happy with what I created. It was a learning experience
through the whole process, and I think it is a good representation of
myself. The work of Sailor Moon by itself is a commanding and
relatable storyline; we might not all fight monsters and save the
world, but we have struggles and makes decisions, and all of us have
the opportunity to be heroes, even in the smallest way. The
characters and plots of Sailor Moon inspired me to write this
piece, and I hope I did it a little justice.

Enjoy.

The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted.